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2008 Power Players, Week 7

Ned Deane, Andover: There wasn’t much to smile about for the Golden Warriors in a 55-25 loss to Dracut, but Deane was a bright spot. When the Middies kick returner let the ball roll away from him, Deane alertly chased it down and dove on it for a touchdown. He also made a sack that forced a turnover on downs when Andover trailed by only two scores. 

Zach Borelli, Central Catholic: With Haverhill hanging tough, Borelli stripped the ball for the Hillie back to help clinch the Raiders’ 24-13 win. Borelli made a team-high 13 tackles. Zak Adamopoulos added 10 tackles and caused a fumble of his own.

Joe Esposito, Georgetown: Is there anything Esposito can’t do? The senior was once again a force in the Royals’ 28-6 win over Murdock. Esposito passed for 128 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 123 yards on 16 carries and two more scores. He also picked off a pass for good measure.

Anthony Conte, Georgetown: Emerging as Esposito’s favorite target, Conte caught five passes for 80 yards and a 7-yard score. He also rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, the lone score Esposito did not have a hand in.

Juan Olivo, Greater Lawrence: Anyone who watched the Reggies win the Super Bowl last year knows Olivo can play. The senior defensive lineman again showed his skills, recording a pair of sacks as Greater Lawrence pushed North Shore to the limit before falling 7-2.

Isiah Ocasio, Haverhill: The quarterback led the Haverhill attack that gave Central Catholic all it could handle. Ocasio rushed for a game-high 149 yards on 21 carries and a 69-yard touchdown run.

Ramon Heredia, Lawrence: Against Masconomet he was benched. But one week later, the senior orchestrated the biggest win for Lawrence since 1985 with a 34-33 upset of undefeated Wilmington. Heredia was 15 of 23 throwing for 242 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a 20-yard touchdown in the biggest game of his career.

Mike Calzetta, Lawrence: The junior also delivered the biggest game of his career in Lawrence’s CAL upset win. Calzetta caught six passes for 98 yards, both team-highs, and touchdowns of 35 and 5 yards.

Joe McLaughlin, Londonderry: The junior running back just continues to star. He rushed 13 times for 93 yards and touchdowns of 1, 30 and 15 yards. He also took the opening kickoff of the second half and ran it back 80 yards for a score. He combined with Sean Given (6-96, TD) and Adam Bradwell (4-65, TD) to lead the powerful rushing attack in the 55-35 win over Manchester Memorial.

Oscar Rosario, Methuen: Lowell running back Ambruce Carter took off from his own 2-yard line and had clear sailing down the left sideline. Or so he thought until Rosario closed on Carter and hauled him down from behind at the Ranger 12. The senior's hustle paid off at the time as Lowell failed to score, giving Methuen a shot to tie the game.

Chris Buco, North Andover:  Buco was a jack-of-all-trades for the Scarlet Knights, who fell 23-8 to tough Staples (Conn.). In the first quarter, he sprinted for a 29-yard punt return, giving the Knights excellent field position. Then, after North Andover was forced to punt, he flew down the sideline and dove on a spinning ball at the 2-yard line to pin the Wreckers deep in their own territory. In the fourth quarter, he had a huge second effort for a 4-yard gain that set up Brandon Walsh's keeper for the Knights' only score.

Bruce Vieira, Pelham: In their closest game of the season, the Pythons looked to their star. Vieira ended up with 210 yards on 19 carries and broke off touchdowns of 36, 56 and 50. Pelham ended up downing Kearsarge 36-20.

Dan Johanson, Pentucket: With head coach Steve Hayden diversifying the attack in the early going against Amesbury, Johanson was the go-to ball carrier and delivered 68 yards on just 10 carries. More importantly, Johanson contributed consistently for over a quarter with a sprained right ankle, an injury that finally drove him to the sidelines.

Sam Auffant, Phillips: Auffant opened the game in style with a 44-yard touchdown run, and kept rolling as the Big Blue bested NMH 28-7. Auffant finished the day with 143 yards on just eight carries and two touchdowns. Andover’s Sam Clark (TD catch) was one of the blockers that opened holes for the back.

Matt Mangano, Pinkerton: With Eric Guinto out with an injury, halfback Mangano shined in Pinkerton’s 28-27 loss to Mass. rival Brockton. Mangano rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and caught two passes (the only two the Astros would complete), one a 33-yard touchdown.

Cory Lavallee, Salem: The Blue Devils' receiver caught five passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the first half of Salem's 21-20 win over Nashua North. He now has four TD catches on the year, and the 117 yards was a single-game area-high this season.

Joe Murphy, Sanborn: The senior gave the Indians the lead in the first with a 5-yard touchdown, then cut Sanborn’s deficit to one score in the fourth with a 35-yard touchdown. But Sanborn could not hold on and fell to Lebanon 28-20. Murphy ended up with over 100 yards rushing.

Erik Hatton, Timberlane: Opposing teams now know there's more to Timberlane than Derek Furey, who went over 1,000 yards for the season. Hatton (196 yards on 12 of 18 passing) threw touchdown strikes of 67 and 13 yards in the Owls’ upset of reigning New Hampshire Division 2 state champion Exeter. The senior QB added a 2-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak to put the Owls up 14-0.